These Clever Hacks Keep Onions Fresher Longer

Like its popular counterpart, garlic, the onion is a versatile bulb that adds an aromatic base to many recipes. Use it alongside carrots and celery to make chicken stock, sauté sweet onions for a Thai stir fry, add red onions to a green salad for added kick, or caramelize them for a burger topping. However you choose to use the coveted onion, it’s always best to have many on hand (especially during harvest season). But, you want to make sure they don’t go bad too fast. 

Onions prefer a cool, dark, and dry environment, as added moisture (which may accumulate in the veggie drawer of your fridge) can lead to molding, and sunlight can lead to sprouting. I like to keep mine tucked away in my pantry, far from the heat of the oven and stove. Onions should also be stored alone, away from other fruits and vegetables, especially apples and potatoes which emit high amounts of ethylene gasses, causing nearby onions to degrade faster. And the container matters, too — unpeeled onions need space for airflow, whereas cut onions won’t last long outside of an airtight environment. If you can’t tell, I love onions so much, and I take their storage seriously, which is why I’ve searched long and hard for the perfect storage solutions to upgrade my makeshift kitchen “root cellar,” ahead of my own big harvest. From baskets to bins — starting at $15 — these bestsellers are essential to keep this key allium fresh.

Best Onion Storage Solutions at Amazon

Caxxa Countertop Wire Basket 

The minimalist design of this metal basket allows it to be tucked inside a pantry or drawer, keeping your onions out of the sun. It’s made from premium powder-coated curved wire and features a sturdy stand that won’t scratch your countertop. This basket measures 11.2 inches round and 6 inches tall, making it the perfect size to keep a few onions on hand. One five-star reviewer loved this basket so much, they wrote a poem about it. For just $15, this is a less-expensive way to keep your onions fresh. 

Mahueeol 2-Tier Countertop Fruit Basket

Mahueeol’s two-tier countertop basket provides plenty of space if you like to buy onions in bulk, or are harvesting a homegrown batch like me. The two levels provide airflow, so you can easily store other alliums right below or above without any worry. As a bonus, the baskets can be detached from the base and used separately. This basket is specially equipped with a wooden carrying handle so you can tuck it away in a pantry and pull it out when you’re ready to cook. It’s also made of high-quality iron with an open-mesh design, allowing for proper airflow and stability. One shopper said this basket is easy to assemble. “It holds a lot, but doesn’t take up a lot of space,” they wrote.

Merysen 2-Tier Bamboo Vegetable Holder 

If you like the natural look of wood, this bamboo produce holder is for you. Placed alongside a wooden cutting board and a utensil holder, this stunning display serves a functional purpose.  The slotted wooden baskets provide ample airflow to your onions, and the natural antibacterial nature of bamboo makes it a safer option for food storage. Stack a few of these sturdy baskets side-by-side in your pantry to house several items, from produce and dry goods to drinks and snacks.

Sntd Four-Tier Vegetable Stand with Wheels

Sometimes you need your storage to act as an additional countertop. That’s where Sntd’s vegetable stand with wheels comes in. Store onions, other produce, and pantry staples in the three provided baskets, and then use the wooden tabletop to house your toaster or blender when it’s not in use. This storage solution can be situated in a corner in your pantry, cellar, or a dark area, and then rolled to another place should you need to relocate it. Each of the three wire storage baskets is equipped with a wooden handle and rail so you can easily pull them out to grab what you need. This steel unit is so sturdy it suffices as a solid piece of kitchen furniture, and it’s only $43. 

Soopleu Onion and Avocado Produce Saver Set

This happens to me all the time — I cut an onion in half for a recipe, and then wind up bagging the rest in a plastic bag in the fridge. When I go to use it again, I see that water has condensed on the inside of the bag causing the outer part of the onion to wilt (or even mold). So, I decided I’m going to try Sooplue’s onion savers. These nifty dual-sided silicone keepers lock out the air and keep the freshness in. Simply place your onion half on one side of the silicone lid, and then affix the other side to create a vacuum seal. The high-quality silicone has ample stretch, and these keepers can be tossed in the dishwasher after each use, eliminating the need for single-use plastics. The set comes with four different options too, so you have enough to go around for other produce like avocado, lemon, and more.